Laguna Beach ?
 

Hi,
Planning a trip to So. Calif. the end of September. Want to go to Laguna Beach how many nights do you think we should stay? Was there 2 years ago for dinner, loved it.
Also recommendations on lodging would be most helpful. Love the Montage but 800.00 a night is way over the top. September and October are still there high months. Thanks so much

Used to own a house there. Great town. Two nights is plenty for Laguna unless you want to beach a lot. Haven't been there in a while, but there used to be some nice B&B's. (i.e., Carriage House)right near the heart of the town. Might check with the Town for other places. Montage is nice and very expensive, but not near the town where all the charm is. Hope this is helpful.
K. Williams - PS - Go to Las Brisas for appetizers and drinks - sit outside - not inside. What a view!

Donna - have you tried the Surf and Sand?
It is not cheap but not 800.00 a night...

luxurylink.com usually runs special packages for the Surf and Sand. My friends really like the Inn at Laguna Beach.

September is the best month on the Southern California coast, IMHO.

IVK - I agree with you - I love going to the beach in Sept here in Southern California - kids are back in school - the weather cannot be beat. It is lovely.

What is your budget?

Love the Surf & Sand Resort..also, 5* St. Regis at the end of September is going for $455 a night..great hotel too!
I would do 2-3 nights in Laguna..If Laguna is too pricey, come on down to La Jolla!

Tams - my Dad stayed at the St. Regis in June when he came to town for my son's high school graduation. It was an unfortuante weekend to be there - the president of Vietnam was there as well and the place was over flood with bus loads of protesters, police lines and news crews.
The service was less then stellar and I was disapointed as I had suggested the St. Regis.
Many unfortuante things happened during my Dad's stay and he ended up writing a letter.

Last week - he received a package from the St. Regis - giving him two free nights and a cabana for one day. They followed up very nicely in order to have him come back and give them a try again.

Regarding the grounds - they are lovely.

If someone has American Express points - they can transfer them into a starwood account and it is about 25,000 starwood points a night to stay at the St. Regis.

Hi Dawn..
Sorry to hear about that..the downside of staying at a luxury property..I am glad your father wrote to the GM and they were gracious to comp him 2 nights + a cabana..
You need to speak up if your room is not up to par.
Just stayed last week at the Phoenician in a casita and the room had stains on the carpet & furniture..
117 degrees didn't want to change for one night..took pics and sent them to the GM..sent us a 4day/3night compliments of the Phoenician!

Donna, keep us posted as to what you have chosen.

Tams - that is a very nice incentive to come back to the Phoenician - I have not been there in almost 10 years or so. How was the rest of the stay?

My Dad's room was actually very nice - the issues were all service related. He paid for a cabana for the day and there were issues with it not being able to access til after 12:00 noon - Chris Issac was actually putting a concert on the lawn that evening and I thought it was cool - but service was greatly impacted due to that as well.
Donna not trying to highjack your thread - please do let us know what you decide.

I have heard of very good deals at the Ritz - it is not a favorite of mine but with the Montage and St. Regis they have competition -

Tams, I will also be going to LaJolla as part of my trip. Any suggestions on lodging there?

Surf and Sand looks nice also, $545.00 a night in September. Budget around 300.00 a night.

http://luxurylink.com/fixedprice/fp_...;WT.ac=MOME02O

$1095 for 3 nights, subject to availability. We're getting closer to your budget! :)

Hi Donna!
I like the Grande Colonial Hotel in the heart of the village of LJ..
$200-300 range..a block from the ocean and shopping and great restaurants too..
Love Georges at the Cove...sit on the terrace.
Happy to help anyway I can for your trip to LJ!

thegrandecolonial.com
georgesatthecove.com

IVK-Thanks... I saw that!! Do you think 3 nights is too long in Laguna though? Parking is 27.00 a day at hotel. Sand and Surf seems nice though..
TAMS- Thanks.. will check it out..
I really can't decide where to make my home base while visiting the San Diego area before going up to Laguna. Torn between LaJolla and Coronado...
Can you describe the difference between the 2 ares?

Donna - I would stay in La Jolla hands down over Coranado but understand La Jolla is one of my favorite places in the world.

Not sure how to describe the difference between the two but if you stay in the heart of La Jolla - you will never need to get into your car - you can walk around the cove - dine on the terrace at Georges - shop/window shop on Prospect and surrounding streets -

There is a more expansive beach on Coranado - so if that is imporant to you - you might prefer Coranado - if you stay on the beach side. If you stay on the bay side - you can take a ferry across the way to down town San Diego and that is a blast too...

Just talking to my husband and he has decided that we should stay in LaJolla.
3 nights enough for site seeing in San Diego and surronding area?

Donna - I think you could spend a week - but 3 nights will be lovely. Enjoy.

Inn at Laguna Beach is perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean at the north end of the town beach. Nice boutique hotel, walk to everything in town, in your price range. see www.innatlagunabeach.com

Thanks... that looks nice also.
So many choices!

I usually stay at the Hotel Laguna when in town. Moderate priced hotel with nice atmosphere. It has a nice restaurant overlooking the ocean. The location is great. It's right at main beach. If you go to Lagunabeach.com you can look at pricing and save 10% when you mention you found them at that website when you call for a reservation.
Hope this helps.
That's my favorite time to be in Laguna!

Stay as many nights as possible!

try www.casalaguna.com

Anyone know....
Which is closer to town and main beach the Surf and Sand or the Inn at Laugna?

The Inn at Laguna is a nice place, but it's smack dab in the middle of town, next door to main beach, which is packed with tourists and lots of traffic. Some people like that...

I live here and would prefer the location of Surf & Sand, which is a little more south. They're both right on the Pacific Coast Highway, but the traffic is less congested the further south you go and the beach in front of the hotel is also much more secluded. Surf & Sand just redid their rooms, so they are very nice and their restaurant Splashes is good.

Las Brisas has great views, but the food is average. Have a drink and an appetizer at sunset. Mozambique, Sun-dried Tomato Cafe, Sapphire, and Cafe Zoolu and are some of my favorite restaurants.

That said....I love La Jolla...

Thanks Gemstone:
Can you walk into town from the Surf and Sand? Wondering if it will be very crowded in late September.
Seems like everyone agrees that I should stay in LaJolla over Coronado..

Yes, you can walk, it's about 10 blocks or so to the Main Beach area, so it's a ways. There are shops along the way, but it would take time to walk to and from. There's a free city trolley that runs all summer. Check and see if they're still running in September. Everywhere will be less crowded in late September than it is now.

I haven't been to Coronado for years, but we day trip to La Jolla and Del Mar and like both those places alot.

Gemstone - Cafe Zoolu is a find - make reservations - it does fill up - I live in Coto and agree with you on the Surf and Sand being a little further south and a little nicer. Yes, Las Brisas is average on the food - but I do love to sit on the patio and have a margarita
:-)

It will be my 50th birthday while I'm there, so looking for someplace special to have dinner.

Donna, for a 50th birthday in Laguna, French 75's the place! It's really special!

Donna - I would not suggest Cafe Zoolu for a 50th birthday dinner - unless you go by first and check it out - it is a small place and very unassuming.
There is a fantastic (expensive as well) place at the Montage - I believe it is either the Loft or the Office - I cannot recall which.

The restaurant at Montage is Studio and it would be worthy of your 50th birthday dinner. The Loft there is a little more casual, but good too. I agree with dawnnoel about Cafe Zoolu, just a boxy little place that packs in the locals, but their seafood is something special. French 75 is charming old-world, Stonehill Tavern at the St. Regis is modern trendy good (Michael Mina) and is one of the best in the area now for a splurge.

Thanks Gemstone - I just could not remember the name of the "nice" resturant at the Montage - pricey but I have heard great things about it.

I love Zoolu and while swordfish is never my favorite fish - it is UNBELIEVABLE there - and I am not a "foodie" :-). But you need to "know" what you are getting... the owners appear to be a bit quirky but we love it and have dined their for birthdays and anniversaries - I can just see someone going and thinking "what is wrong with those people at Fodors?" ;-)

Lol, dawnnoel! Same with me, swordfish is not a fish I eat at all, but by my husband loves Zoolu's, too. Their sea bass is also fantastic. Actually, I wouldn't mind going there for my birthday, as long as I could go over to French 75 for their chocolate souffle, champagne and jazz afterwards!

Wow!! They both sound really nice, especially the "chocolate souffle and champagne" for dessert!!!
Everyone is great and so helpfull thanks
OK one last question... I promise Itenerary help..
2 or 3 nights in LaJolla for home base to see things in San Diego? Zoo, Balboa park etc...

(2) nights in Laguna, sound good?

Then I'd like to make another stop somewhere for another night..

Never did the Beverly Hills or Hollywood thing? Or maybe a night in Malibu?
OR fly out of Long Beach and go to Napa for a night.. hmmmmm
What do you think.....

Hi Donna,
I would not try to do napa in one night/day. It is a drive from Okland or SFO - too much.

Westwood/beverly hills is a good day/night trip. Where are you flying in and out of?

I also like to stay in Santa Monica - we like BOA by the 3rd street promanade... but you might have had enough of beachy towns after La Jolla and Laguna Beach -

Not sure on budget but my Dad loves the Four Seasons in Bevelery Hills - it is right on the corner of Rodeo - I stayed there for NYE and it was nice...


And Gemstone - I am just jealous you LIVE in Laguna - dh keeps me trapped out here "behind the gates" ;-) I would love to live in San Clemente or Laguna...

I'm jealous because you guys live anywhere in Ca. LOL
Its funny because I live on Long Island and people come here to vacation and come for our beaches but I just fell in love with Ca...
Santa Monica.. hmmmmm thats a thought, not sure whats there...
Beverly Hills sounds nice also.. Do the touristy thing!!!
Could fly into San Diego and out of Long Beach, or vice a versa, we dont mind driving... We love to explore...

Donna, I think 2 nights in Laguna is just right.

I'm not really an LA gal, but if you want to do Beverly Hills, treat yourself to an outdoor lunch at the Hotel Bel-Air. It's a gracious old hotel in a wooded canyon and the experience is good for the soul.
www.hotelbelair.com

One night's not enough time to do the Napa area. You'll need to spend a few days there, but have you considered the Santa Barbara wine country? So much fun...and great wines, inns and restaurants.

OK Napa is out, too much to squeeze in.
We've been to Santa Barbara for one night 2 years ago during our trip up PCH. Stayed at the Inn of the Spanish Gardens, was so nice. Loved Santa Barbara. We did not get to Solvang (sp) near Santa Barbara though.

Donna - JetBlue has a great flight from JFK into Long Beach - you can usually find good fares. Direct flights and you cannot beat how easy it is to get in and out of Long Beach. It is a tiny airport.

I will be in Long Island in Oct for a wedding - dh is from NYC and all his family is still in the area.

Santa Monica is nothing great -- we like it -- when we go up to stay in the LA area (we saw Wicked in Hollywood but stayed in Santa Monica). I like the 3rd Street Promanade to shop and walk around - it is a fun shopping "street" - outdoors -- but like I said after La Jolla and Laguna it might not have that much lure.

dawnnoelm:We had flown into Long Beach the 1st time I was there.. So easy.
Where in long island will you visiting?
Can I ask, who is dh?
I love East Hampton & Montauk in the fall, its beautiful....
Maybe the Beverly Hill Hotel or the Four Seasons would be fun and special.
Actually my original plan for my 50th was to fly into LA and get my hair cut by Jonathan, I love his long layered look and then go to Laguna & San Diego, but just recovering from chemo do to b.c. and hair is very short so my that plan went out the window..

(((Donna)))
God bless you - may you have the BEST 50th birthday!!

Dh is: Dear Husband for short. :-)

I am not sure where on Long Island we are going - we are flying into JFK and staying in the city for two nights - seeing Jersey Boys - (it is our 11 year Anniversary trip) and then the wedding is Sat. night on Long Island.

On Sunday we are seeing a dear friend of mine who lives in East Islip? Or something like that...

I will have more details when we get the wedding invite.